UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
Benchmark Licensing Agreements
On June 30, 2026, 21Shares US LLC (the “Sponsor”) provided notice to CF Benchmarks Ltd. (“CF Benchmarks”) of the termination, effective August 31, 2026, of the licensing agreement (the “Pricing Benchmark Licensing Agreement”) between the Sponsor and CF Benchmarks relating to the use of the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate—New York Variant (the “Pricing Benchmark”) by the Sponsor, ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (the “Trust”), and their affiliates. Pursuant to the Pricing Benchmark Licensing Agreement, CF Benchmarks provides each of the Sponsor, the Trust, and their affiliates a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sub-licensable, perpetual, worldwide license to access, view and use the Pricing Benchmark to develop, create, calculate, settle, maintain or support and market the Trust, with the Trust using the Pricing Benchmark pursuant to a sub-licensing arrangement with the Sponsor. The Pricing Benchmark Licensing Agreement has a one-year initial term and automatically renews for successive one-year periods unless terminated pursuant to its terms. The Pricing Benchmark is calculated and administered by CF Benchmarks and is used to value the Trust’s shares on a daily basis and to calculate the Trust’s net asset value. CF Benchmarks is unaffiliated with the Sponsor. The Sponsor has elected to terminate the Pricing Benchmark Licensing Agreement pursuant to its terms in connection with its broader transition to a new benchmark provider, as further described below.
The Sponsor intends to enter into a licensing agreement with FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”) on or about August 24, 2026 whereby FTSE will provide each of the Sponsor, the Trust, and their affiliates a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sub-licensable, perpetual, worldwide license to access, view and use FTSE index data to develop, create, calculate, settle, maintain or support and market the Trust. Such license is expected to have a one-year initial term and will automatically be renewed for successive one-year periods, unless terminated pursuant to its terms.
FTSE is a company incorporated and registered in England, and its principal offices are located at 10 Paternoster Square, London, EC4M 7LS, United Kingdom. FTSE is experienced in calculating and administering digital asset indices. FTSE is unaffiliated with the Sponsor.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Dated: July 7, 2026 | ARK 21SHARES BITCOIN ETF | |
| 21Shares US LLC, as Sponsor of ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF | ||
| By: | /s/ Duncan Moir | |
| Name: | Duncan Moir | |
| Title: | President | |
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